Apparatus for raising water or other liquids



(No Model.) r -1 '3 sheets-sheet 1'.`

P. H. MERRILL. 4' APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER 0R OTHER LIQUIDS.

Patented Apr. 2.1, 1896.

3 sheets-sheet 2.

Patented Apr. 21, 1896.

F. H. MERRILL. APPARATUS PoR RAISING WATER on OTHER LIQUIDS.

(No Model.)

AN DREW B GRAHAM. PHOTO-LITHD-WASHINGTOMD C.

'Y (No Model.) 1 ssheets--sheet 3.

F. H. MERRILL.

Y APPARATUS PoR RAISING-WATER 0R OTHER LIQUIDS'.

ANDREW EGFAHAMI PHUYOHMQWASHINGTUNJIO Nirnn STATES FRANK Il. MERRILL, OF BOUND BROOK, NEV JERSEY, 4ASSIGNOR TO TIIE MERRILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEIV JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,880, dated April 21, 1896. Application tiled August l0, 1894. Renewed March l2, 1896. Serial No. 582,983. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom, it 77mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK I-I. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bound Brook, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising' Tater or other Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

Pneumatic pumps have been constructed by me in which the valve controlling the supply of compressed air was shoved backward aswell as forward bythe compressed air passing through the water-compartment. I have discovered a new mode of operation in which the valve is shoved in one direction by the compressed air passing through the watercompartment, but is shoved in the otherdirection by air received from the com pressed-airsupply pipe without going through the watercompartment. This new mode of operation enables me to greatly simplify the apparatus employed, and thus materially improve it in the matter of durability, cost, and unattended operation.

I will set forth in the following speciiication two forms in which this new Inode of operation may be embodied. In one forni the continuance of the exhaust is limited by the closing of a vent by the action of a float and in the other form by the regulation or size of a vent so timed as to continue the exhaust long enough for the water-compartment .o have time to till. l

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of an apparatus with the various inclosures sectioned to show the interior construction. Figs. 2 and 3 are details of the same. Fig. 4. 'is an elevation of another form of apparatus with the inclosures sectioned. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same.

I will rst describe the form shown in Fig. l.

a is the lshell of the water-compartment, which consists ot' a single casting open at top and bottom. ZJ and b are a base-plate and a hollow pedestal cast in one piece. The plate covers the lower opening of the shell a and is provided with a central opening closed by the valve b2. c is a cast plate closing the top opening of the shell a. To the plate c are connected the various parts hereinafter referred to. d is a cast chamber provided with bottom and side openings for pipe connections. e is a casting of the form shown, on top of which is placed the cast plate f. All of these castings are simple in construction, and therefore do not add largely to the cost ot' the apparatus. The remainder of the apparatus is very largely made up of piping and unions or valves, which are already to be had upon the market, and therefore do not add much to the cost, the result being that the whole apparatus, whileV efficient, may be very cheaply constructed.

g is a water-delivery pipe extending from its mouth near the bottom of the compartmenta upward through the plate c and thence to the point of delivery. It contains a checkvalve at c/ near (within thirty feet above) the compartment a.

7L is a compressed-air-supply pipe leading to a cham ber e at the bottom of the casting e.

CZ is a pipe connecting the middle of the chamber CZ with the top of a vert-ical cylinder e2 in the upper end of the casting e.

e3 is a smaller cylinder in the casting c intermediate the chamber e and a chamber e4, which cylinder contains side perforations e5, leading into a passage e6. The cylinder opens at the top into the chamber c4 and at the bottom into the chamber e. The cylinder e2 opens at the bottom into the chamber c4. The chamber e4 is provided with .a side opening e7 into the open air.

ris a piston in the cylinder e2, connected by a rod t" with a smaller piston i2 in the cylinder c3.

j is a pipe connecting the passsage ea3 with the top of the compartment CL,passin g through the plate c.

Zi; is a pipe extending from the bottom of the chamber CZ through the plate c into the top of the compartmenta, where it is provided with a branch pipe Zt.

k2 is an upwardly-opening check-valve in the pipe Zo below the branch pipe Zt. In the lower end of the pipe Za is a downwardlyopening valve Z, to which is connected a lever Z', from which is suspended a closed iioat Z2.

m is an upwardly-opening valve at the end of the branch pipe k', upon which is supportroo ed a bell-shaped iioat m. This float m pret-A erably occupies a position in a narrow upward extension or neck of the compartment a, as shown in Fig. l.

The operation may be described as follows: Suppose, in Fig. l, the compartment a to be full of water and compressed air to be supplied through the pipe 7L. This compressed air will pass through the cylinder e3, perfora tions c5, and pipe j into the top of eompart ment e and will force the water therein out of the delivery-pipe. lVhen the water-level is lowered sufficiently, the float Z2 will drop and-open the valve Z, whereupon the compressed air will pass through the pipe Z1: into the chamber CZ and thence through the pipe d into the top of the cylinder e2. The compressed air being now above the piston 1l and beneath the lpiston Z2 will, by reason of the greater size of the former piston, force both of them downward into the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the piston 112, acting as a valve, cuts oft the supply of comn pressed air from the perforations e5 and opens an exhaust from the pipe j through the perfoi-ations e, the cylinder e3, the chamber e4, and the opening e7. The pressure being thus removed from the compartment a, the checkvalves g and 7a2 will close and the valve h2 will open to admit the water in which the apparatus is immersed. As this water rises in the compartment a it will lift the float Z2, so as to close the valve Z, and when it reaches the top of the compartment will begin to lift the float m, so as to open the valve fm. very slightly. This action connects the compresed air contained in the top of the cylinder e2 and the chamber CZ and the pipes CZ and 7s with the interior of the float W, causing that float to jump upward and open the valve m Wide, thus quickly removing the pressure from the top of the pist-on c' and permitting the compressed air acting on the bottom of the piston 'Z2 to shove the pistons into the position shown in Fig. l, whereupon the whole operation is repeated.

l will now describe the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, using, so 'far as feasible, the same letters to indicate corresponding parts.

a, is the shell of the water-eompartment, which consists of a single casting open at top and bottom.

b and b are a base-plate and a hollow pedestal east in one piece. The plate covers the lower opening of the shell a and is provided with openings closed by the valves b2 c is a cast plate closing the top opening of the shell a. To the plate c are connected the various parts hereinafter referred to.

f is a cast structure containing thc chamber cZ, provided with a bottom opening into the cylinder e2 and a side opening into passage d2.

c is a casting of the form shown, on top of which is placed the cast strueturef.

' g is a water-delivery pipe extending from its mouth near the bottom of compartment a upward through the plate c and thence to the point of delivery. It contains a check-valve at g near (within thirty feet above) the compartment a.

h is a compressed-air-supply pipe leading to a chamber eatthe bottom of the casting e.

@-3 is a smaller cylinder in the casting e intermediate the chamber e' and a chamber e4, which cylinder contains side perforations e, leading into a passage e6. The cylinder ci" opens at the top into the chamber e4 and at the bottom into the chamber e. The cylinder e2 opens at the bottom into chamber e," and at the top into chamber CZ. The chamber el is provided with a large side opening c7 into the open air. l

'L' is apiston in the cylinder e2, connected by a rod Z with a smaller piston Z2 in the cylinder e3.

j is a pipe connecting the passage e" with the top of the compartment a, passing through the plate e.

k is a pipe extending from the passage (Z through the plate c into the top of compartment a, where it is provided with a downwardly-opening valve corresponding with the valve Z in Fig. 3, to which is connected a lcver Z", from which is suspended a closed iioat Z2.

k2 is an upwardly-opening check-valve in the pipe 7s.

o is a vent connecting the passage Z2 with the open air, the size of which vent is controlled by a set-screw valve o.

The operation of the form shown in Figs. #l and 5 may be described as follows: Suppose in Fig. 4 the compartment a to be full of water and compressed air to be supplied through the pipe h. This compressed air will pass through cylinder e3, perforations e, and pipe j into the top of compartment a and will force the water therein out of the deliverypipe g. Vhen the water-level is lowered sufficiently, the iloat Z2 will drop and open the valve at Z, whereupon the compressed airwill pass through the pipe V7c into the chamber (Z into the top of the cylinder e2. The compressed air being now above the piston /Z and beneath the piston i2 will, by reason of the size of the former piston, force both of them downward, thus cutting oft the supply of compressed air from the perforations e5 and opening an exhaust from the pipe j through the perforations e5, the cylinder e2, the chamber e, and the opening e7. The pressure being thus removed from the compartment CL, the check-valves g and 702 will close and the valves b2 and b2 will open to admit the water in which theI compartment is immersed to the extent of just submerging the compartment a. As this water rises in the compartment a it will lift the iioat Z2, so as to close the valve Z. This action cuts oit the chamber CZ from any compressed air entering the watercompartment7 but entraps sufiicient air in the chamber CZ to prevent the upward movement of the cylinder /L' until that air has been exhausted. The size of the vent o is so regulated by the set-screw valve 0' that the time required for exhausting the air from the ICO IIO

chamber d will be practically sufcient to permit the compartment a to be filled with water. When this condition of things is reached,tl1e compressed air in passage h being unopposed by pressure in the chamber d will force the pistons t' and @"2 back into the position shown in Fig. at, when the operation already described will be repeated.

Inl both forms of apparatus thevalve ft2 at one end of its stroke connects the passage j with the pressure-passage 7L; but when at the opposite endof its stroke it connects the passage j with the exhaust-passage e. The valve is held in the latter or exhaust position by the air entrapped in the chamber d and connected passages by the valve in the passage 7s remaining closed while the pressure from the pipe 7L is cut off from the compartment d. In both forms as soon as this entrapped air is vented sufficiently (in one case past the loat-controlled valve m and in the other case past the set-screw-controlled valve 0') the compressed air in the supplypassage h reasserts itself and forces the valve 'i2 back into its first or pressure position.

I do not Wish to be understood as limited to any specific form of apparatus. A

The piston i2 is to be considered, broadly, as a movable member, located in the supply-pipe and connected with the valve mechanism, whereby the valve mechanism is iinpelled by the pressure in the supply-pipe, or, in other words, by the pressure of the air in the pipe leading to the water-compartment in contradistinction to the pressure of air which has passed through the water-compartment, or one division thereof in case it is in two parts, as in a double-acting pump.

I claiml. In a liquid-raising apparatus, in combination, a liquid-compartment, aliquid-delivery passage as g, a compressed-gas-supply pipe as h, j to said liquid-compartment, a gasexit passage as k, a valve as Z in the same, a iioat operated by the liquid in the compartment and controlling said valve, valve mechanism to cut oit the gas supply containing a piston, as i2, which moves in antagonism to the supply-current of gas as the same is cut off, and means whereby the pressure of gas in said exit-passage is exerted to produce said movement of said scribed.

2. In a liquid-raising apparatus, in combination, a liquid-compartment, a liquid-deliverypassage,acompressed-gas-supply passage, a pressure-controlling valve, a passage whereby the compressed gas from said liquid-compartment is applied to the movement of said valve in one direction, a float-operated valve whereby said passage is controlled, a checkvalve in said passage whereby the compressed gas applied to the movement of said valve is entrapped and a vent through which said entrapped air escapes to permit said pressureregulating valve t0 be moved in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

piston, substantially as de- 3. In a liquid-raising apparatus containing' a liquid-compartment, a liquid-delivery passage as g, a compressed-gas-supply passage as 7L, j, a pressure-controlling valve as 2, means for operating the same by the pressure in a gas-exit passage, a gas-exit passage as 7e with which the compartment communicates and which is provided with an exhaust-paslsage as a, in combination with said parts the following' parts whereby the timing of the pressure and exhaust in said gas-exit pipe is controlled, viz: a valve as Z controlling the opening from the compartment into said passage 7c, a float in the compartment controlling said valve Z, a valve, as m, controlling said exhaust-passage 7c', a float in the said compartment controlling said valve m, said floats being located respectively at or near the bottom and top oi' said compartment, substantially as described.

l. In a liquid-raising apparatus in combination, aliquid-compartment, a liquid-delivery passage, a compressed-gas-supply passage, a pressure-controlling valve in the same, a iioat operated by the liquid at its lower level in the liquid-compartment, another iioat operated by the liquid at its upper level in the liquid-compartment, a piston operating to close said pressure-regulating valve, a cylinder for said piston, a pipe connecting said cylinder with the water-compartment, a valve in said pipe controlled by said first-named float whereby pressure is admitted to said cylinder and a valve controlled by said lastnamed float whereby pressure is relieved from said cylinder, substantially as described.

5. In a liquid-raising apparatus in combination, a liquid-compartment, aliquid-delivery passage, a compressed-gas-supply pas sage, a pressure-controlling valve in the same, a float operated by the liquid at its lower levelin the liquid-compartment, another float operated by the liquid at its upper level in the liquid-compartment, means whereby said pressure-controlling valve is controlled in one direction by pressure from the liquidcompartment, a pipe conducting said pressure from the liquid-compartment to said means, a branch from said pipe, check-valves in said pipe and the branch therefrom, a valve in said pipe controlled by said first-named float and a valve in said branch controlled by said seeond-named float, substantially as described. 6. As a means for controlling the pressurecontrolling valve in a pneumatic pump in combination with said valve and the liquidcompartment of the pump, a piston operated to close said valve, a cylinder for said piston, a pipe communicating the pressure from the liquid-compartment to said cylinder, an eX- haust-valve in said pipe and a bell-shaped float in the liquid-compartment connected with said valve and surrounding the valveopening whereby as the rise of liquid raises said iioat the exhaust of the pressure into said iioat facilitates its opening of the valve, substantially as described.

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7. In a liquid-raising apparatus operated by compressed gas in combination, a liquidcompartment, a pressure-supply passage 7L, a passage j extending between the same and the liquid-compartment, an exhaust-passage, a valve whereby said passage j is alternately connected with the passage h and with the exhaust-passage, a piston connected with said Valve, a cylinder for said piston, a passage connecting said cylinder with said liquid-compartment, a valve in said last-named passage whereby the air in said cylinder is entrapped upon the removal of pressure from the liquidcompartment, a vent for the escape of the entrapped air and means whereby said vent is controlled, substantially as described.

S. In a liquid-raising apparatus operated by compressed gas, in combination, a liquidcompartment, a cylinder e3, a pressure-passage 7L connected with one end of said cylinder, an exhaust-passage, a passage j connecting said cylinder with the water-compartment, a piston valve in said cylinder whereby said passage] may be connected with the pressure or exhaust, a piston i of larger diameter than said piston-valve connected therewith, a cylinder for said piston fr', a passage leading from said liquid-compartment to said last-named cylinder, a valve in said last-named passage whereby the air is entrapped in said last-named cylinder, a vent for the escape of the entrapped air and means whereby said vent is controlled, substantially as described.

9. In a liquid-raising apparatus operated by compressed gas, in combination with the liquid-compartment and a compressed-gassupply pipe and a water-delivery pipe, the following parts as a means of controlling pressure in the water-compartment,viz: two connected pistons of different areas arran ged,substantially as described, whereby the smaller is subjected to the pressure from the supplypipe, a valved passage whereby communication is opened between the liquid-compartment and said larger piston when the liquidcompartment is under pressure and closed when the liquid-compartment is under eX- haust, a vent through which the pressure upon said larger piston is relieved and means for controlling said vent, substantially as described.

10. In a liquid-raising apparatus operated by compressed gas, in combination, a liquidcompartment, a pressure-supply passage 7L, a passage j extending between the same and the liquid-compartmcnt, an exhaust-passage, a valve whereby said passage j is alternately of the entrapped air and means whereby vent is controlled, substantially as described.

connected with the pressure-passage 7L and with the exhaust-passage, a' piston connected with said valve, a cylinder for said piston, a chamber d, passages CZ and 7c connecting said chamber respectively with said cylinder and said liquid-compartment, a valve in the passage k whereby the air in the chamber CZ is entrapped upon the removal of pressure from the liquid-compartment, a vent for the escape said 1l. In a liquid-raising apparatus, in combination, a liquid-compartment, a liquid-delivery pipe, a compressed-gas-supply pipe, a valve-chamber connected therewith, a pipe connecting said valve-chamber with the liquid-compartment, a valve in said valve-chamber by the movement of which in antagonism to the compressed-gas supply,the liquid-compartment is cut off from said supply and connected with an exhaust, a gas-passage from said liquid-compartment, a valve in the same, a i'loat operated by the liquid in the liquid-compartment and controlling said last-named valve,power-differentiating mechanism whereby the pressure of gas in said last-named passage is multiplied andtransmitted to move said first-named valve in antagonism to the gas supply and a check-valve whereby the compressed air is entrapped in contact with said power-diierentiatin g mechanism, substantially as described.

l2. In a liquid-raising apparatus, in combination, a liquid-compartment, a liquid-delivery pipe, a compressed-gas-supply pipe, a pressure-controlling valve closing the same by moving antagonistically to the pressure therein, an exhaust connected with the liquid-compartment upon the cutting off of such pressure, power-differentiating mechanism connected with said pressure-controlling valve, a gas-passage from said liquid-coinpartment to said power-differentiating mechanism, a valve in said gas-passage, a float operated by the liquid in the liquid-compartment whereby said last-named valve is controlled, a check-valve whereby said gas is entrapped at said power-differentiating mechanism and a vent through which said gas escapes from said trap, substantially as described.

Signed at Bound Brook, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, this 7th day of August, A. D. 1894.

FRANK II. MERRILL. iVitnesses:

H. C. SUYDAM, FRED S. KEMPER.

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